Plot recommendations

Charlieyca

Active Member
Southeastern NC zone 7B. Working from east to west I have 1/2 white clover, 1/4 chicory and red clover plot, 1/4 spent turnips plot, 1/2 Paul knox mix, 1/4 wheat and red clover. I have cleared 4 new clearings in the back (west end of my farm) closest to my sanctuary. They are in a K shape with a stand at the intersection of all 4 clearings. I know hunting the plots is not ideal, but the other 40 acres of my farm is all thick thick cover. I am tryign to decide if I want to stick with what I know works (brassicas in one, clover in one, cereal grain mix in one) or try something new. Waiting on soil test results, but suspect soil is average and will need lime and fert.
option 1. paul knox special. It works but already have same crops up front of farm
option 2. leave alone. Bush hog in early fall and let it regrow ( poor deer food when cleared)
Option 3. plant 2 and leave 2. Plant 2 lanes with clover and brassicas and leave 2 lanes fallow and compare.

Have not hunted this 15 acres of the farm but one time late last season.
green and blue lines are the clearings
red is the property line and the stand
yellow is cleared with 100 shrubs planted throughout. food plot plan for backstand.JPG
 
Last edited:
Southeastern NC zone 7B. Working from east to west I have 1/2 white clover, 1/4 chicory and red clover plot, 1/4 spent turnips plot, 1/2 Paul knox mix, 1/4 wheat and red clover. I have cleared 4 new clearings in the back (west end of my farm) closest to my sanctuary. They are in a K shape with a stand at the intersection of all 4 clearings. I know hunting the plots is not ideal, but the other 40 acres of my farm is all thick thick cover. I am tryign to decide if I want to stick with what I know works (brassicas in one, clover in one, cereal grain mix in one) or try something new. Waiting on soil test results, but suspect soil is average and will need lime and fert.
option 1. paul knox special. It works but already have same crops up front of farm
option 2. leave alone. Bush hog in early fall and let it regrow ( poor deer food when cleared)
Option 3. plant 2 and leave 2. Plant 2 lanes with clover and brassicas and leave 2 lanes fallow and compare.

Have not hunted this 15 acres of the farm but one time late last season.
green and blue lines are the clearings
red is the property line and the stand
yellow is cleared with 100 shrubs planted throughout. View attachment 11412

Have you considered a summer annual like cow peas?
 
I have tried sunflowers and IC peas in the past and they were eaten to nubs in just a few days. I would a crop that is more of a candy crop, but i havent found that balance between attraction to the plot and survivability of the crop.
 
I’m a newbie at food plots and I’m gonna try Sunn Hemp. It’s supposed to be a good soil builder and able to handle moderate browsing. Some folks say their deer crave it while others say it is hardly touched.
 
Back
Top